82. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Korea1
55. Department should decide by August 15 whether to request inclusion on Agenda 14th UNGA of item recommending Security Council reconsider ROK membership application. Although items “of an important or urgent character” under GA Rules of Procedure may be proposed after August 15, would be difficult urge persuasively that Korean membership application falls in this category.
Last year question ROKUN membership was not included on GA agenda but was subsequently included Security Council agenda on US initiative when Council called upon act on Guinea’s application. ROK admission again vetoed by USSR. At that time we told ROK we would wish consider with them next year (1959) whether question should be raised in General Assembly. We are thus committed to discuss matter with ROK.
We would anticipate ROKG will (1) strongly urge item be inscribed (2) argue necessary keep membership before UNGA and (3) argue step necessary for maintenance morale in Korea as well as for bolstering international prestige ROKG.
We are of course deeply sympathetic with ROK position. However we believe following consideration pertinent to any discussions this year.
No new applications anticipated for consideration by 14th GA. Introduction of Korean (and FYI possibly Vietnamese End FYI) application in these circumstances and without hope fruitful outcome may reduce sympathy on part many UN members and if Korean application received less votes than in past it would not be helpful to Korean prestige. FYI: Only US spoke on behalf ROK at 13th GA after Soviet SC veto. End FYI. Moreover discussion ROK application can be expected be broadened include unrecognized regimes in north Korea north Vietnam and Outer Mongolia. Voting down consideration of applications from these regimes will require considerable US effort. Must be borne in mind also 1957 vote on Indian-Indonesia draft resolution requesting Security Council consider “all applications” defeated by close vote 37 against to 33 for with 10 abstentions2 and it by no means certain similar resolution could again be defeated.
[Page 145]Another factor to be considered is whether in connection repatriation dispute ROKG may take actions that might prejudice support for ROK membership.
You should therefore immediately discuss this matter with ROKG unless you perceive objection, using such of above arguments as appropriate and making sure ROK understands risks involved as indicated above. You should further point out at least four new membership applications appear likely to be presented to 15th GA for action, and proposal to reconsider ROK application more likely obtain sympathetic reception in this context than alone.
We would appreciate not only ROK reaction but your views and comments on this reaction.3
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 310.2/7–2259. Confidential. Drafted by Lane and Hartley on July 1; initialed by Sisco; cleared by Bane; and approved by Walmsley who signed for Dillon. Repeated to USUN.↩
- Reference is to a draft resolution on which the Special Political Committee voted on October 17, 1957. For text, see U.N. doc. A/SPC/L.17. For a record of the debate and vote on the resolution, see U.N. doc. A/SPC/SR.49.↩
- Telegram 86 from Seoul, August 4, reported that the previous day the Embassy had received a note from the Korean Government regarding discussion of Korean issues at the 14th General Assembly and soliciting U.S. support for Korean unification and South Korean admission to the United Nations. The Foreign Ministry official delivering the note had stated he felt it would be unwise to apply for U.N. membership, but that the decision had to be made by a higher authority. (Department of State, Central Files, 310.2/8–459) On August 3, the Korean Ambassador discussed Korea’s application for U.N. membership with Parsons and urged that the United States raise the question in the General Assembly. A memorandum of this conversation is ibid., 310.2/8–359.↩